Tooth-bbirsh



J. A. GARDNER.

TOOTH BRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911.

1,328,0%2w Patented Nov. 25, 1919,

ORNEY" T %TATE% JOSEPH A GARDNER, 0E MEMPHIS, TTdtNESSEE.

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reasons;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, rare.

Application filed Hovember 23, 191?. Serial No. 203,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn A. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tooth-Brushes, of which the following is a. specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a construction for a brush having flexible prongs which will afford an offset for the lateral prongs equal to the length of a normal tooth from the gum line to the grinding or occlusal surface, thereby makingit possible to pass the scrubbing ends of the bristles in the lateral prongs over the lingual surface of the teeth without tilting the brush, and at the same time keeping the scrubbing ends of the bristles moving in line with the long axis of the hilt of the handle.

My invention has for its further object to provide a tooth brush with a'brush-head formed of a plurality of horrible prongs.

I am aware that pronged brush-heads have been made heretofore, which are more sanitary than other designs, also being very easy to clean. But I not only divide thebrushhead into prongs or sections, with the desirable results thus attained, but I provide a certain flexibility of each prong by means of which a result is secured which is necessary in order to reach all surfaces of the teeth due to the irregularity of same, the absence of which flexibility is an objection urged by the dental profession against other designs of tooth brushes.

My invention has for its further object to construct the tooth brush handle so as to bring the scrubbing ends of the bristles in line with the long axis of'the hilt or grip portion of the handle, which eliminates the tendency of the brush .to turn in the hand during the process of cleaning the teeth.

My means of accomplishing the foregolng objects may be more readily understood by having reference to the accompanying drawing, which is hereunto annexed and is a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brush constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig, 2 is a back viewo Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entire description.

As shown in the drawings, the brush 1 is formed by a plurality of prongs 2, in which are mounted the bristles 3, the handle 4, of the brush 1, is so formed as clearly shown in Fig. 1, that the ends 5, of the bristles 8, are in the same plane as the front 6, of the handle 4. This is accomplished by bending the handle as at 7. The bent portion is reduced in Width until it spreads out to form the prongs 2 for the brush proper. The lateral prongs project beyond the sides of the reduced portion of the handle a distance equal to the length of a normal tooth taken at points between the grinding surface of the tooth and the gum line, and the reduced portion of the handle is also bent so that the grip or portion of the handle engaged by the hand of a user has its front surface approximately in line with the plane of the ends of the bristles of the brush head, and preferably, the reduced or bent portion is of a length which will enable the bristles to reach the second molar teeth without the shoulder of the handle between the reduced portion and the grip portion striking the li s.

Practice has shown that'this reduced portion of the handle should be at least one and a half inches in length, as that construction will permit the brush proper to enter. the mouth sufliciently to brush the second molar tooth without having the shoulder or bent portion 7, strike the lips.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a brush constructed as l have just described my invention will accomplish all of the objects and possess all of the advantages set forth in the preamble to this specification.

In some instances it may be found desirable to construct the brush proper or prong 2, to increase the efi'ective scrubbing brush comprising a handle provided with a area, and I do not wish to be understood central and lateral flexible prongs, bristles as limiting myself to any precise shape for mounted in said prongs, the central prong the prongs, as a variety of shapes may be extending beyond the lateral prongs and 5 employed without departing from my inhaving an enlarged end adjacent, but be 15 vention. yond the ends of the lateral prongs. Having thus described my invention what In witness whereof I have signed the fore- I regard as new and desire to secure by going specification. Letters Patent ofthe United States is 10 As a new article of manufacture, a tooth JOSEPH A. GARDNER. 

